The Mines golf team has started the spring season off with solid play. The team’s recent success has been aided by their new $100,000 indoor practice facility which features an electronic driving range and a full sized putting green. The Division 1 level facility is unparalleled in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and has allowed the team to stay sharp despite tough weather conditions.
“The fall season was a little under our normal expectations,” stated Head Coach Tyler Kimble. Though the fall season performance was not ideal, the Mines golf team has started a resurgence during the first half of the spring season. The team has been led by top play from senior captain Nick Berry and freshman George Markham.
“Nick is starting to come on and George has got the team’s low scoring average,” said Coach Kimble. The rest of the scoring five is made up of seniors Mike McNulty and Conrad Smith and junior Taylor MacKay who have all been posting career and season low marks as part of the varsity team.
The men’s golf team started the spring season with a second place showing at the New Mexico Military Institute Invitational. The team shot four under par in the single day, two round tournament and was only seven strokes off the leader, Midland Community College. They finished second in the nine team field. The team was led by top ten finishes from freshman George Markham who tied for second at four under par and senior Nick Berry who tied for sixth at three under par.
The Orediggers continued their road trip in California against 20 of the top teams in the country at the Norte Dame de Namur Invitational. The team was able to secure an 11th place finish thanks to consistent play in a three round tournament that was won by the perennial powerhouse and #2 ranked Chico State.
The team was led by lights out play from freshman George Markham who scored in the top 20 with a final score of 7 over par. With a good showing as well, upperclassmen Conrad Smith and Nick Berry both finished in the top 40 at 11 and 12 over par respectively.
After the road trip the Orediggers returned back to Golden for the Bob Writz Invitational at Bear Creek Golf Course. Unfortunately, due to a snow storm the tournament had to be canceled without the possibility of being rescheduled. The team now will be on the road for the remainder of the season.
The team has two more tournaments before post season play. The team’s next tournament is the Mustang Intercollegiate in Goodyear, Arizona, hosted by rival Western New Mexico.
The team has set a goal of qualifying for regionals which invites the top 10 teams in the region. This looks within reach for CSM because they have been ranked around number 10 in the region most of the season.
“I hope the team will practice with a purpose and play with a purpose, but at the same time enjoy the ride,” said coach Kimble. If they do this, coach believes the team will play loose and to their full potential giving them a great shot to reach the regional tournament.
